So, upon reflection, I have seen as many or more films of Andrew Traucki than I have of Ozu (3), Satyajit Ray (1), Godard (3), and Tarkovsky (3). I am not sure what that says about me, my tastes, viewing habits, or philistinism, but it feels significant. (A disturbing aside: I have also seen 4 Uwe Boll films, so perhaps garbage is my diet of choice). I at least find the basics of Traucki’s work enticing and enjoyable.
In his latest effort, it is both a descent into a croc cave and a dip in creepy quality. It starts lamely but sets the table for standard deadly scares. Unfortunately, it all gets shoehorned as deep as the hole they find themselves in. I don’t think that the drama does have the potential to work, as I have seen it fully functional in his other films, but the contrivances to put them in danger and the necessity to inject further superfluous drama just drowns the film. In an already barely floating situation, inane character beats and eye-rolling script cringe are like a brick tied to the film’s neck.
Abyss feels like a more teen friendly and ratcheted up version of his previous flicks, which when done decently doesn’t need the populist injection. In the first Black Water, its a very stripped down and grim affair with vacationing crew getting stranded in a deadly crocodile swamp. It uses the believable premise, the hidden horrors, and creeping dread to solidly alarm its viewer. This similar premise and style is effective when he moves the terror to the ocean and with sharks in The Reef. Again, its spartan and shiver inducing; keeping the kills clean and letting the spooks peak for themselves. Neither is terribly sophisticated but they also don’t overextend themselves. Gritty and dread filled, they also don’t wantonly drive into cliches; letting the dead speak louder than the happy endings, which I find endearing.
Hopefully, Traucki’s next (a return to The Reef), is a return to unadorned and daunting form, because this clunky and laugh-inducing horror miss was left wanting, despite cramming in relationship nonsense and unfortunate CGI overestimation.
